mincemeat

noun

mince·​meat ˈmin(t)s-ˌmēt How to pronounce mincemeat (audio)
1
: minced meat
2
: a finely chopped mixture (as of raisins, apples, and spices) sometimes with meat that is often used as pie filling
3
: a state of destruction or annihilation
used in the phrase make mincemeat of

Examples of mincemeat in a Sentence

the artillery quickly made mincemeat of the enemy's fortifications
Recent Examples on the Web There's no Christmas pie more traditional (or divisive) than classic mincemeat pie. Kaitlyn Yarborough, Southern Living, 15 Nov. 2023 My mother always made mincemeat pies for thanksgiving and Christmas. Daniela Galarza, Washington Post, 9 Nov. 2023 Built around an aluminum enduro frame with carbon components, the bike is lightweight yet sturdy and can make mincemeat of rocky terrain. Rachel Cormack, Robb Report, 10 Mar. 2023 The Ravens met the Cincinnati Bengals on the last Sunday of the 2020 regular season and made mincemeat of their divisional foe, bashing out 404 rushing yards to clinch a playoff berth for the third year in a row. Childs Walker, Baltimore Sun, 6 Jan. 2023 It’s because bones are also light and flexible, and the physics behind the speed and angle of blows make mincemeat of strength measures. Mark Barna, Discover Magazine, 3 May 2018 Close all the way except in one respect: The final score will make mincemeat of the total. Jeremy Cluff, The Arizona Republic, 4 Nov. 2022 The Ventura native ultimately made mincemeat of USC’s defense, accounting for five touchdowns, including three on the ground. Ryan Kartje, Los Angeles Times, 15 Oct. 2022 Two judges have viewed this from a constitutional perspective and made mincemeat out of it. Gene Maddaus, Variety, 6 Oct. 2022

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'mincemeat.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1630, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of mincemeat was in 1630

Dictionary Entries Near mincemeat

Cite this Entry

“Mincemeat.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/mincemeat. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

mincemeat

noun
mince·​meat ˈmin(t)-ˌsmēt How to pronounce mincemeat (audio)
1
: minced meat
2
: a finely chopped mixture (as of raisins, apples, and spices) with or without meat

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